This article is written by Sudhir, a fellow enthusiast of Hindi movie music and a contributor to this blog. This article is meant to be posted in atulsongaday.me. If this article appears in sites like lyricstrans.com and ibollywoodsongs.com etc then it is piracy of the copyright content of atulsongaday.me and is a punishable offence under the existing laws.

Blog Day :

3642

Post No. :

14468

A recent anniversary that I had been preparing for – and missed on account of some travel engagements – is the remembrance day for the exceptional poet and lyricist – Bharat Vyas. He passed away in 1982, on 5th July.

A career that lasted well over four decades, starting in the early 1940s. with about 1200 songs from more than 130 films. And a majority of these films, say around 70%, is an exclusive list of religious and historical films that forms a very impressive read. So yes, his specialization seems to be poetry on religious themes. Even a (then) modern dance based love story – the film ‘Cha Cha Cha’ from 1964; when the producer needed a couple of songs of traditional nature, Bharat Vyas is the poet who was called upon for this task.

I am presenting this surprisingly very fun song from a nondescript children’s film ‘Phool Aur Kaliyaan’ from (1960). When I landed at this song and started listening, it seemed to be some sort of a normal bhajan beginning, being sung by a group of young children. The earnestness and sincerity writ upon their faces as they start the singing, is very engaging. And the mind prepares itself for some wonderful bhajan to follow. But just after the introductory lines are done with, the song transforms into a hilarious entreaty to the Almighty, wherein the children are praying for a very specific boon from Him.

As the song continues, the play of emotions continues to transform from one antaraa to the next, adding more and more hilarity with every passing line. The earnestness on the faces of these children, their expressions of entreaties, and their actions to the words in the song, adds to the humor. And the listener realizes that the children are dead serious with their pleadings to the Lord. In the entire process, the children use all forms of inducement – literally following the traditional method of “साम, दाम, दंड, भेद” which is inducement by praising, by promises of alluring gifts, by threats, and by logic.

The picturization of this song is excellently imaginative. I am just continuously laughing whenever I start listening to this song. The चाचा (uncle) of the children is a tailor. The song is being performed in his work place. The children pick up miscellaneous things from around them and contrive some very peculiar instruments to create the orchestra for the music. The expressions and the fervour of their delivery has been handled extremely well by the director, and of course by the kids themselves.

As the songs gets to its closing lines, the fervour and the intensity of expressions starts to increase. Suddenly come to mind certain other bhajans, in which the picturization shows a similar amplification of fervour and music, and by experience we know – a miracle is about to happen; the statue of God will shed a flower, or a tear. Or an unconscious, near dead person will start breathing and mumbling.

The film ‘Phool Aur Kaliyan’ comes from the banner of Rajkamal Kala Mandir of Bombay, which has been the flagship banner of V Shantaram after his separation from Prabhat Studios in 1942. The film is directed by Ram Gabaale. Geet Kosh lists four songs for this film, all from the pen of Bharat Vyas. The music composition is by Pt Shivram. The singing voice is that of Charusheela, the daughter of V Shantaram from his first wife Vimalabai.

So watch and listen to this oh so engaging song, and I promise you will be smirking and laughing all the way through, to the last when the miracle occurs. Needless to say, I am verily bowled over by this song. And if any listener disagrees and is not fully satisfied, I am ready to return their money. 🙂 🙂